Miter-box



(No Model.)

. s. wB'sTP-ALL.

MITBB B0X.

No. 548,104. Patente@ O Gt. 15,1895.

. gaging hook or ange.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

- WILSON S. WESTFALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MITER-Box.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,104, dated October 15, 1895.

reputation mea nach 1s, 1895.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is avview in perspective of my improved miter-box. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a View in perspective of a vertically-adjustable plate of which I make use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective ofthe laterally-moving saw-guide.Y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged crosssectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Fig. 4.

Referring by numerals to the accompanydrawings, 1 indicates a basetimber of any suitable width and thickness, and 2 a vertical plate, that is constructed with an integral base portion 3, that rests directly upon the upper side and adjacent the rear edge of the base 1. Said base portion 3 isA constructed with a downwardly-bent flange or edge 4, that rests against the rear face of the base 1. By means of screws 5, or in any suitable manner, this plate 2 is properly positioned upon the base 1. This plate 2 is approximately half the length of the base 1, and the right-hand end thereof or the end that is at the center of said base is somewhat wider than is the body of said plate, and in said widened portion, which' is indicated by the numeral 6, is a vertical slot 7. Y y

8 indicates a vertically-arranged metallic strip, one edge 9 vof which is bent into an en- The upper end of said vertical strip 8 is rigidlyL fixedvto-the rear face of the plate 2 by means of a rivet or pin 10. Directly beneath this rivet or pin 10 is a segmental slot 11, the curvature of which is in conformity with a circle the center of which is located at the pivot or pin 10. The edges serial N o. 542,1'77. (N man.)

of this slot 11 are beveled, as may be plainly seen in'Fig. 3, and an ordinary screw 12 is passed through said slot and through the lower end of the vertically-arranged strip 8. A nut 13 is located upon the rear end of this screw, and thus the lower end of said strip is very rigidly held in' proper position.

Y The right-hand end of the base portion 3 is cut off at an angle relative its length for a purpose that will be presently shown.

14 indicatesa vertical plate, identical in form and size with the plate 2 with the exception of the widened end 6, and said vertical plate 14 is constructed with the integral base 15, from which is bent downwardly the rear edge 16. Said base 15 is located upon the base 1 in direct alignment with the base 3, and securely held in this position by means of. screws 17 or in any suitable manner. When the plate 14 and integral base 15 are properly positioned, said plate y14 will be in direct longitudinal andvertical alignment with the plate 2, and a very slight space, such as 18, will be left between the meeting inner edges of said plates 2 and 14. The inner end of the base 15 is cut off at an angle relative the length of the same, said angle being opposite or at right angles to the angled end of the base 3.

19 indicates a metallic plate, one of the vertical edges 20 of which is bent at right angles to the main body portion, and said outwardly-bent edge is adapted to be engaged by the hook or flange 9 of the strip 8. The opposite edge of this plate 19 is constructed with a loop or ear 21, that constitutes a portion of a hinge connection that will be presently described.

Formed integral with the upper edge of the plate 19 and extending forward therefrom and atright angles thereto is a semicircular plate 22, in the edge of which is constructed, at certain angles relative the center of the rear edge of said plate, a series of V-shaped notches 23. It may behere stated that the center of the rear edge of this plate 22 is in ,direct vertical alignment with the center of the ear or loop 21. Located in said plate 22 and extending directly forward from the center of the rear edge thereof is aslot 24. This plate 19 is normally located upon the rear side of the widened end 6 of the plate 2 in IOO such a manner. as that the outwardlyturned end 2O -is engaged byl the hooi; orti-lange@ of the strip 8, and when in this position a headed screw 25 passes through a slot 26 in the lower end of said plate 19 and through the vertical slot 7 in the widened uend 6. Alwinged nut, 27 is located upon the protruding end of this screw 26, and thus forms means for very rigidly holding at any desired position theplate 19 and its integral parts.

28 indicates a metallic saw-guide, compris-A ing a plateoftmateriahbent `doublef-.and ,a space let't between thetwo `wingsol a sufcient width to admit an ordinary saw-blade. The top and bottom edges of this saw-guide 28 are inclined forwardly inorder to accommodate the `natural movement or thrust-0f the saw. `.Formed lintegralwith one of the wings of this Asaw-guide 28 areears or loops `29, identical in form and size with t-he `ear-or loop 21,and said loops 29-are-positionedon top and below said ear- 2l. -A pin `30 passes through these coinciding ea'rs29fand 21 and `performs the function of ahinge-ipin, and when said pin isproperlypositioned thesaw- `guide 28 is free to swing laterally beneath the semicircular plate22. `Fixed to onewingof the saw -lguide28 is a vertically-arranged spring A31, having aV-shaped or knife-edged projection 32 at its upper end that istadapted to .engage in any one of theV-shaped notches 23 in the edge of the plate`22.

\ 33A indicates-a pair `of` arms :or levers f that `operate upon the top face of the plate22, and saidarms or levers are pivoted to` or swung` upon the hinge-pin 30 asesaid` hinge-pin 30 is passed i through-said `arms or levers. "l'llhe outer ends Vof these arms or levers extend;

truding end of this screw 36-a11'dforms means `whereby the arms33-may be rigidly held `af` ter they have been properly positioned.

The operation is as follows: The-work in which it is desired to cuta miter is `located directly upon the face of `the-ibase 1 and against the lVerticaliplates-2 and '14. This maybe fully understood byreferring to the dotted lines in Fig. "6. The-knife-edge 32 of the spring 31 `is now disengaged from the notch in `which it has been normally-engaged, and the saw-guide 28 is `nowswunglaterally in either direction until itreachesthe proper `angle `on which the miter is desired to be cut.

The knife-edge 32 is now -re-engagedin one of` the notches 23 that corresponds withi the angle; andthe saw-blade is insertedthrough the saw-guide 28. Bynow manipulating said saw in theproper manner -and `against the work` the proper miter is cut. As the meet- Should the work be of some height, the plate' 19 and saw-guide carried thereby can be raised by merely tunscrewing or loosening the winged nut 27` and raising said plate 19 and saw-guideV 28. WVhen the same have reached the proper position, the winged nut is again set to rigidly hold-said parts in their elevated positions.

lIn'tsome-instances itamay be found necessary toont a miterr at anlangle other than the 4usualonesandforvtrhich the .V-shaped notches 123fare properlylocated. iTo, properly attain theidesiredresulti` the witngedlnut 37 is `loosened and one of. theiarms33=istswtung tofwhat- `every pointer angle `on twhich t they mi-ter de- Msired Vis to` bereut. :The remaining arm 33, be

ingconnected by means of` the arms 35, will swing into the same urelative position on the "oppositetside of l theiplate 22. The `winged -nut 137" is nowireset, and theiknife-edge 32 of thespringn3l islocateddn Ieither oneof the notches 34D `on the ends Votthe arms33. :Thus

theproperuangle for; the miter to be cutis obitained.

miterbox `of t my improved construction 1is very simple, inexpensive, compact, `and maybe fvery- `expeditiously operated, asV the `saw-guide :28 i can be instantlyswung to the -position `or-angle requiredi fortlle miter to be cut,and the platekl9 carrying thesaw-guide can be at any time adjusted to fit or suit the work. `The plates2andl14 can be located on .any `baseyandtsaid plates `and the ,i plate `19 and saweguide 28can be packed or folded into comparativelysmall space while wsaid, parts are being transported or packed in a tool-box. The adj usting partsareall easily and quickly accessible, and there being a `minimum num- `4Hberoftparts of:;the device will not easily get ,out of order. Thus, will. beseen how I` have A constructed-ia miter-box` that possesses superior, advantages inV point `of simplicity, d-uraf bility,-and general` eiciency.

anpair ofV metallic plates-locatedlin alignment upon one edge thereof, anad j ustable clam ping -striparrangedupon one-side of-said plates,ia

vertically adjustable plate located upon the -rearlfside .of oneri end `of` one i of the Vertical plates,-an integral outwardlyturned end or arranged-semicircular plate formedintegral t with the vertically adjustable plate, thesame having llarseriesfof *iV-shaped notches inV its edge, a sawgguide hinged to the vertically adjustable plate, and a-sprng fixed to said sawguide having a V-shaped projection adapted to engage in the V-shaped notches.

2. In a ruiter-box, a pair of plates located in longitudinal alignment upon a suitable base, an engaging strip adjustably located upon the rear side of one end of one of said plates, a plate located for vertical adjustment upon the rear side of one of said plates, one edge of which is engaged by the engaging strip, a semi-circular plate having a notched edge formed integral with said vertically adjustable plate, a saw-guide hinged to said vertically adjustable plate and operating beneath said semi-circular plate, a spring-catch fixed to the saw-guide and engaging in any one of the notches in the edges of the semi-circular plate, a pair of arms pivoted to the hinge-pin of the hinged connection between the sawguide and vertically adjustable plate, the outer` ends of said arms being notched, and a pair of arms iixed to said first mentioned arms and pivoted together attheir meeting ends.

3. In a device of the class described, a suitable base, a pair of vertical plates having integral right-angle bases located upon said base, the meeting ends of said bases being cut at angles relative one another, a vertically adjustable plate located upon the rear side ofk one of said vertical plates, and a laterally swinging inverted U-shaped saw-guide hinged to one edge of the vertically adjustable plate.

4. In a device of the class described, a suitable base, a pair of plates located in longitudinal alignment upon said base, a vertically adjustable plate located upon the rear face of one end of one of said plates, a semicircular horizontally arranged plate formed integral with said vertically adjustable plate, a saw-guide of inverted U-shape hinged to one end of said vertically adjustable plate and operating beneath said semi-circular plate, a spring-catch xed to said asaw-guide and adapted to engage in any one of a series of notches upon the edge of the semi-circular plate, and a pair of arms pivoted to the hingepin between the saw-guide and vertically adjustable plate, said arms operating upon the top surface of the semi-circular plate, and suitable connecting arms or levers for said irst mentioned arms to cause the same to move relative one another.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILSON j S. WESTFALL.

Witnesses:

M. G. IRION, JOHN C. Htc-DON. 

